At THIS moment, I'd go with the following, in reverse alphabetical order:

Gene Wolfe - No author can write the first person narrative as skillfully and deceitfully as Wolfe. Imagination, pontification, sublimation, characterization are all things that raise his status

John Marco

Fritz Leiber Though I only read the first three Fafhrd/Mouser stories first time recently, they changed my approach to writing fantasy and what to expect from other authors. The man coined the term Sword and Sorcery.

Stephen R. Donaldson Any writer who can convince a multitude of readers, and more importantly, myself, that a SOB of a leper can be the protagonist over three books and share the spotlight in three more books is something special. Amazing descriptive scenes of The Land, a secondary world that is believable.

Steven Z.K. Brust


It will probably change again, next time I post.